But the young Rev. Peterson began to feel his superiors weren’t paying attention so he tried an experiment — on his report he indicated he was having serious doubts about his faith and needed help. After no response he increased the fictionalized problems, eventually reporting illicit affairs then experimental drug use during the eucharist, each month getting wilder — still nothing.

At the end of his probationary period he was asked to evaluate the supervision he received. When he mentioned his reports weren’t read he was assured otherwise — that is until he pointed out the details. There was then “a splendid vaudeville slapstick of buck-passing and excuse-making”.1

He uses that illustration to point out who is, really, responsible for our spiritual growth — we are!

“I was quite mistaken to look for spiritual nurture and expect vocational counsel from the institution.”1

Each of us is responsible and accountable for our own lives — vocationally and spiritually.

Like this:

Pharaoh said, “Lazy, that’s what you are—lazy! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks.” … Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? – Exodus 5:17,22 (NIV)

God sends Moses to demand release and what does Pharaoh do? He makes the Hebrew’s lives harder – bricks without straw!

Like this:

Put on the whole armour of God … Praying always … and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me” – Ephesians 6:13,18-19a

Standing strong in Christ means being alert and watching – but watching for what?

1) First, we watch for Christ’s return. Jesus said he would return at an unknown hour to take his followers home and judge the ungodly. There won’t be time to say, “Wait, give me a moment!” He warns not to procrastinate.

2) We need to be alert for those trying to lead us astray. Sadly, some have not followed that admonition.

“For there are certain men crept in unawares, … ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. – Jude 1:4

3) And we are to watch for opportunities to serve Christ. Jesus said, “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing (Matthew 24:46). That means doing as much good as we can while we can, to whom ever we can.

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. – Galatians 6:10

Like this:

“From Dr. Spock to Annette Funicello, growing up in the ’50s and ’60s, we grew up thinking we were special. Somehow, we metamorphosed from peace, love and happiness to a me generation.”

“We started accumulating wealth and began focusing on providing for ourselves and our families. That’s what we did and now, we’re beginning to look around. What’s it all about?” he said. “Many of us are divorced. Our families are spread to the seven winds. We’re disappointed.”1

Like this:

“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness;…for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” – 2nd Peter 1:5-7a,10b(KJV)

Judge Judy, on her popular daytime television show, told a plaintiff suing her own sister for something done to her husband, “In ten years you probably won’t have this husband, but you’ll still have your sister, be kind to her!”

You don’t choose your physical family and you don’t choose your brother’s in Christ, either. You won’t get away with cheating them2 and they will be with you for eternity; be kind to them!3